Data collection is currently ongoing. If you have you been contacted to participate in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, click "Tell me more" to learn about how participants are selected, what to expect during interviews, and how we ensure your confidentiality.

"One reason I have chosen to work on the MCBS for 10 years is that I have seen firsthand the positive changes MCBS has helped to create in the Medicare program. None of this would be possible without the contributions of participants! I truly enjoy the work I do in the field and love getting to know the participants." –Barbara Walter, MCBS Field Interviewer

"I love this job because I believe in the value of research and the importance of collecting meaningful data for this great study. I truly enjoy meeting new people and talking to participants. At the same time, the challenge of helping participants understand the value of this study and completing such an important interview really keeps me involved." –Renee Hurn, MCBS Field Interviewer

Want to know more about how the data collected from the MCBS increases knowledge about health care in America?
Click "Tell me more" to browse journal articles, policy briefings, and resources for researchers.

Welcome to the MCBS

Since its inception in 1991, the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) has served as the leading source of information on the Medicare program and its impact on beneficiaries. Commissioned by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the MCBS is a vital source of data that researchers and policy makers use to understand the health care utilization and needs of Americans. It has been carried out continuously for more than 25 years, and more than one million interviews have been conducted since its inception.

A Message from the Project Director at NORC

As you may know, NORC at the University of Chicago is partnering with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS). I am writing on behalf of the MCBS project staff at NORC to convey how excited we are to carry on this study with you! We hope that you enjoy your experience working with us to provide this much needed information to important Medicare stakeholders and policymakers.

I would like to tell you a little bit about NORC at the University of Chicago. NORC is an independent research organization that serves the public interest through objective social science research that supports informed decision making. We believe that understanding our society—and taking action on the issues that confront it—requires information gained through unbiased, high-quality social science research. Over the past 70 years, NORC has helped a wide range of clients identify and address society’s most urgent challenges.

NORC and CMS are committed to protecting respondent confidentiality and privacy, and both organizations diligently uphold provisions established under the Privacy Act of 1974, the NORC Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002. Our approach to confidentiality and security begins with staff and interviewer training and continues through all project activities, processes, and information management systems, ensuring that the security of your information is our priority.

Our goal is to maintain a high quality relationship with each of you, and to continuously work toward increasing your satisfaction of your interviewing experience with us. Together, we can provide data of the highest quality and do our role in helping improve Medicare. If you have any questions or concerns about the study, or would like to schedule an appointment, please call NORC toll-free at 1-877-389-3429, or email NORC at mcbs@norc.org. Again, we are looking forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Susan Schechter

Project Director Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey

Has NORC Contacted You?

To schedule an interview, email NORC at mcbs@norc.org or call our toll free number: 1-877-389-3429 to speak with someone directly.

Related Links

This survey is authorized by section 1875 (42 USC 139511) of the Social Security Act and is conducted by NORC for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The OMB Number for this survey is 0938-0568 and expires 6/30/2019.